Wire fence.



I N6. 63!,272. Patented Aug. 22, 1899.

T (5. BUNTA. WIRE FENCE.

Application filed Mar. 1, 1899.)

(No Model.)

QXMMMM Jim/mm Grme Bo/za/ 1 NORRIS P'EYERS 0a.. mofaumou wumuamn n c ings, and to UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GORE BONTA, OF IIARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,272, dated August 22, 1899. Application filed March II 1899- Serial No. 707,313. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS GORE BONTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrodsburg, in the county of Mercer and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Wire Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawthe letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to wire fences, and is directed more particularly to improvements in devices for staying the strands intermediate of the supporting-posts.

The nature of the invention will be understood by reference to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a fence section and stay embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the upper end of the stay. Fig. 3 is a top view of the stay. Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on line 4 4: of Fig. 2.

' Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes the fence-post, which may be of any desired construction or material. To these posts are secured in any desired manner the top and bottom wire strands, respectively lettered b b and the intermediate wire strands W W. The top and bottom strands b b are each provided at intervals with crimped or ofiset port-ions 12 b the crimped portions of the respective strands being in vertical alinement.

, The stays O are each formed, preferably, from sheet metal and are substantially of U form in cross-section. In the opposite ends of each stay are. slots respectively lettered c c, and at intervals ,between the ends the stay is provided with pairs of lugs c 0 extending in opposite directions and preferably formed by being stamped up from the metal of the stay, as shown. With the strands properly erected the stays are positioned to bring the crimped portions b b of the top and bottom strands within the respective slots 0 c of the stays, said crimped portions extending beyond the inner side of the stay sufficiently to admit of the introduction into the eye thus formed of a securing device d, which is a short length of Wire bent by an implement similar in construction and operation to a hog-ringing device to encircle the crimped portions of the strand and extend the ends (1' d in opposite directions above and below the slot,whereby the stay is'- firmly fixed to the upper and lower strands and is incapable of movement thereon in any direction. The intermediate strands are caused to engage the lugs in the manner shown, this being accomplished by allowing them to slack slightly.

lhe intermediate strands by reason of their engagement with the reversely-disposed lugs while incapable of vertical movement on the stays are nevertheless permitted endwise movement, as in tightening andloosening the fence, without shifting the positions of the stays, the latter being, as above stated, held in fixed relation to the upper and lower strands.

It will be understood that the lugs c by their arrangement effectively maintain the intermediate strands in proper spaced relation without the necessity of crimping, clenching, or binding the lugs or lips upon the strands and that therefore the stays will serve their purpose for a comparatively great length of time and may be readily disconnected and restored in moving and rebuilding the fence.

Referring to Fig. at, it will be seen that the looped strands are firmly tied on one side of the stay, while the intermediate strands are seated freely within the lugs or lips on the other side of the stay, and this gives the advantage of a more effective bracing of the stays and strands. I

I claim as my invention In a wire fence, metallic stays having horizontal transverse slots near each end, and lips upset in pairs side by side'standing in opposite directions at intervals on the front side of the stay, in combination with .wire strands,

the upper and the lower ones of which are I the other side of the stay giving an ellective looped through the transverse slots and a tie bracing action of the stays to the strands. l0 coiled tightly around the loop against the re- In testimony whereof I alfix my signature verse side of the stay, the intermediate Wire in presence of two Witnesses.

5 strands freely engaging the pair of lips across THOMAS GORE BONTA.

the front side of the stay, whereby the top \Vitnesses: and bottom strands are firmly tied on one side J. T. WILSON, and the intermediate strands are seated on J. R. CURRY. 

